“Fingers Crossed”

In most romantic films, there’s a moment of dramatic climax where the lovers are thrown in limbo. They may be estranged, separated by forces beyond their control, or wracked with doubt about their love. Whatever the case, it’s these moments that pull us viewers to the edges of our seats, hearts fluttering as we wonder if we’re going to see a relationship blossom or wilt.

In “Fingers Crossed,” Maxwell faces this predicament head on as he reaches out to a lover slipping from his grasp. Yet, rather than lamenting or pleading, he sings with the perspective and poise of a veteran seasoned in matters of love. “If you get the courage baby,” he croons, backed by velvety piano riffs and swelling horns, “someday, probably, maybe, you’ll be mine.”

As he explores the “maybe”s and “if only”s keeping his lover at arms length, his voice exudes an air of calm confidence. Over his 20 years as neo-soul’s premier romantic, Maxwell has sung of love won and lost many times. “Fingers Crossed” is the work of a man who’s realized that uncertainty is an ever-present element of love, and he won’t blame a potential lover for being overwhelmed by the weight of that truth. Ultimately, Maxwell knows what vulnerability is worth—that the perilousness of putting his heart on the line is the very thing that makes the returns so beautiful.